Is ‘Empire’ Renewed Or Canceled? Season 6 Update Amid Jussie Smollett Scandal

Ever since “Empire” premiered in 2015, the Lyon family has owned Wednesday nights on Fox. However, after years of dominating the primetime slot, the musical drama will come to an end after Season 6.

Fans have grown attached to the cast, which stars Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon and Trai Byers as Andre Lyon.

However, others may be more familiar with the show due to Smollett’s recent scandal. The actor was sued by Chicago for allegedly staging an attack on himself that cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in resources.

On Monday, Deadline reported the CEO of Fox Entertainment, Charlie Collier announced the end of Empire during a press call. “We’re turning the final season of Empire into a large television event. If you look at what we’re doing with Empire... we really are trying to go out guns a-blazing,” he said.

“One of the great benefits of announcing a final season is to allow the fans to lean in and to have the ending they deserve, and that’s everything we’re trying to do with this iconic series. Six years is a pretty remarkable run for a drama series and we feel good about it,” Collier added.

Although the network previously announced Smollett’s character would no longer appear on the show, Fox has negotiated an extension to renew Smollet’s option for “Empire” Season 6.

“By mutual agreement, the studio has negotiated an extension to Jussie Smollett's option for season 6, but at this time there are no plans for the character of Jamal to return to ‘Empire,’” the network previously said in a statement.

“Empire” Season 6 is expected to premiere in 2020.